SWK and Authors
- Dec 21, 2022
- 3 min read

GRAND SLAM ANIMAL THERAPY

This information comes from a REAL TRUE Over the Top Animal Lover, she has dedicated her life since she was 7 years old to animal welfare. Angela is very much Respected in the Horse World and has been dedicated and committed in heart and soul towards Total Welfare.

Here I share great information which can benefit many of our Dogs that are part of our family!

Hi! My name is Angela Birriel, owner of Grand Slam Animal Therapy, LLC. I am a canine and equine bodyworker. I have been around animals all my life, the love and respect I feel for them have only grown with time. I started riding horses when I was 7 years old with amazing people who taught me how to love, care for, and respect animals. This was the beginning of my wonderful journey. At this age, I started showing in equitation classes and during the following years of my life, I rode and trained horses in different disciplines.

Through my life’s path, I was also introduced to the care, training, and breeding of German Shepherds, Dobermans, Belgium Malinois, and Labradors. I saw how these dogs exceeded my expectations in the different types of training and their achievements.

The time spent watching the human and animal teams in both the equestrian and canine world drove me to earn my master's degree in Sports Psychology and this opened the doors to a new world of performance enhancement. The equestrian and canine sports are like no other: they are sports where the partner and teammate are living beings that speak a different language. This thought put me on the path toward equine sports massage therapy. Currently, I am certified in Massage Therapy, Animal Neuro Myo-Fascial Release, and Meridian Therapy for horses/dogs, and Equine Kinetic Taping. I am also a Summit Joint Performance representative, a great joint supplement for your equine, canine, and yourself.

The different types of therapy and methods are used in diverse situations and a variety of issues. Some of them are used to accelerate or aid healing, stimulate blood circulation, lower inflammation, enhance range of motion, release soft tissue, provide neurological input, stimulate the development of healthy blood cells, help stabilize the nervous system, sore muscles, mental focus, and many other conditions or situations. The canine and equine body stress the same way our body does, and even if they are aching, they keep giving their hearts to us.

Even though generally speaking, animals do have a high pain tolerance. Like people, there are always those that tend to be somewhat more sensitive.

What are the signs to look for that will let you know your dog is in pain? The most important thing is to know how your dog moves as an individual. Even though as a species and breed there is a norm to how they should move, some have their own distinct stride. If you notice a limp, shortness in the stride, stiffness in a specific area, the head might be lower than usual, maybe laying down more often, may not want to put weight on a leg, anything different in the movement or motion, pay attention to it.

The first thing to do is check the paws, and make sure there is no injury or something that has gotten in between the toes.

Sometimes, even if they are sore, and are asked to perform, we might think they are feeling good. This is because the body releases endorphins, which is a natural body pain reliever. The release of endogenous endorphins can effectively control acute and chronic pain (Corti, 2014)

Asking your dog to perform or do an activity that is rewarding for them, will stimulate the release of the hormone and you may see tell wagging, jumping, and behavior expressing happiness. When this happens, it will seem like your dog is not in pain and this might make you wonder and second-guess your observations.

With this said, sometimes our minds get in the way of success, but sometimes our canine partner is the one in silent pain and that also affects the team’s performance.

Holistic medicine is not only beneficial to enhance performance but also to recover from injuries, and soreness, or simply relax your companion so he/she can have a better quality of life.